The New Roop Order

Can you complicate it more ????

2007-08-31T09:46:00.000-05:00

There was a time when college football was pretty straight forward. D1A, D1AA, D2 and D3. While D2 and D3 have remained unchanged D1A and D1AA have gone by the wayside. Instead we now have the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision. Is this some kind of new real estate deal that I have not heard about because it certainly sounds like it. To make it more confusing an FBS team can now count 1 FCS game every year towards Bowl eligibility. Whereas a D1A could only count a D1AA game once in five years, but only if they had not faced a D1AA in that time period.

How about 2 Divisions in all sports. Play by D1 rules or play by D3 rules. This will eliminate the "football only" schools that are allowed to exist under the D1AA/FCS standards and it will keep BCS caliber teams from giving people hand outs for what amounts to a scrimmage game.

Environmental impact of nuclear weapons testing

2007-05-05T08:02:00.000-05:00

It's very easy to determine what the impact of nuclear weapons testing did to the inhabitants of the Bikini Islands. They were moved away from that atoll as it was no longer safe for human habitation. The government had no choice but to admit that as it was there for all the world to see. However, there is an untold story here and it involves the now likely extinct Conners Whale.

Some background information...............

Sebastian Conner was actually a botanist by trade but was also quite the adventurer in the late 1800s. In 1886 he funded the construction of a tri-masted sailing vessel with which he was to find a new route from Longboat Key, Florida to Bend, Oregon. In 1888 his vessel was completed and christened the Grand Faux Pas. After some trials and fine tuning the GFP was ready to sail in 1890.

It was an early hurricane season that year and Sebastian nearly called his voyage off halfway across the Gulf of Mexico. However, he caught sight of a most unusual school of fish. We now know it to be a pod of whales. He followed the fish to the coast of Panama where they suddenly disappeared. After anchoring he sent a landing party ashore in an effort to solve the mystery. It seems there was an underwater cave there and the whales had escaped into the Pacific Ocean.

Undaunted, Conner quickly had his crew harvest as many banana peels as possible and he made a portage with the GFA in order to pursue the unusual fish. This is the only time a tri-masted vessel has ever portaged across Panama. The route taken was later selected as the course for the Panama Canal.

Once in the Pacific Conner and crew made haste and were on the whales in no time. He noticed them swimming back and forth but did not know what to make of it. After several weeks journey they arrived at the Bikini Atoll. It seems the unusual swimming was a mating ritual and the Bikini Islands were the mating grounds of these whales. Conner studied them there for about a month and named them Conners Whales. Whether they were toothed or baleen whales we may never know as the GFP and all hands were lost on it's return voyage. A small chest with a ships log belonging to the GFP was recovered in 1895 or we might not know this story at all.

Fast forward to the Cold War Era........... The nuclear tests done in Bikini happened at the exact time of the Conners Whales mating season. So those whales not immediately killed were rendered sterile and the species is not known to exist anywhere else in the world. Since they are close in size to the Narwhal and have been known to frequent freshwater it is possible that this is what people are seeing in Loch Ness. A relic population of Conners Whales.

Enough already

2007-04-29T08:40:00.000-05:00

I swear if I hear one more thing about global warming I'm going to puke. YES, it is happening but it is not a manmade event, nor do I think we can do anything about it. NOR SHOULD WE.................. White American Republican Men are not the cause of all the worlds problems, yet they are the ones constantly being blamed. The sun is heating up and the resident of the White House had nothing to do with it. Mars is getting warmer too but everybody seems to forget about that. Although I'm sure it's a result of all those Republican probes and rovers that the United States sent up there. Trust me, we would still have global warming if Al Gore was the President.

New science says that the polar ice caps are safe for another 15,000 years as this is just a normal fluctuation in the earths weather patterns; and it will be a short lived phenomenon in historical terms. Historical terms are what we need to be focusing on. The same people that were crying about a new ice age 30 years ago are the same people crying about global warming now. 30 years isn't even worth considering in historical terms. We just happen to be living in a time when there is change.

Neanderthal Man and Mammoths went extinct because the earth warmed yet I don't recall any factories, gas guzzling SUVs or an evil United States Government around at the time to cause the extinction. What we are seeing now is a survival of the fittest scenario. That's how nature works. Oh no Roop, please don't say that or the Polar Bears might die out............. Well, they might. However. They are descended from the grizzly bear, which is in no danger from global warming, so they should reappear again after another 25,000 years. Which is exactly how long ago science has PROVEN they evolved from grizzly bears. A hybrid was recently shot in Alaska (probably by a Republican) so that proves they are the same species or they could not hybridize.

Personally I cannot imagine 15,000 years but I can imagine 1200 years. Some science says that Earths magnetic field is becoming unstable and may give out in that amount of time. Once the magnetic field is gone there's not much incentive for an atmosphere to hang around. So instead of worrying about temperatures that we can do nothing about perhaps it's time to do something about the magnetic field which we can effect. Nickola Tesla proved that.

Tis the season isn't it..........

2006-12-13T19:15:00.000-06:00

Once again citizens we are at the time of year when certain beliefs are over emphasized as controlling the world. Fear not, all is well with the NRO. And "The Roop" spake............... Fear ye not of your own beliefs, lest they shall be as weak as to cause compromise on the well being of others. Translation.......... if you suffer from cranial rectumitis it's best to keep it your own secret if you can.

It's the Christmas Season once again and now would be a good time to address the Global Oppressor known as Santa Claus. How dare he assign labels to children as he does. Naughty or nice. Clearly this is merit based gift giving on his part and it's discriminatory beyond definition. Gift alternatives should also be distributed to avoid labeling children in such a way.

I've not seen the entire world, maybe only 35% of it. But of all the images I have seen nothing has been so offensive that I managed a protest about it. In Korea I saw a statue on a mountain top and got a close up look at it via the sight on my TOW Weapon System. People in the area did not seem to care for it much so I offered them a view. After that they knew I was not intending to shoot a missile at the statue and it was appreciated by all concerned.

Go along to get along. When no harm is intended this is always the best way. Here endeth the lesson..........

NRO Street Agent Services

2006-12-07T18:14:00.000-06:00

Everybody wants to run the program once they make a contribution to turn it around, but it never works out as planned. The school eventually gets investigated and spends time on probation so you're back to square one. Just because you saw the movie Blue Chips more than once doesn't mean you can pull things off the way it needs to be done. NRO Street Agent Services can.

We might not be able to arrange the exact package you want but we will put together something that will work and avoid detection. For example, a D3 program with a lengthy history of losing can't suddenly land 3 or 4 top D1 recruits because questions will be asked. Not just by the population at large but also by the D1 schools that somehow lost these players. We can get the D1 prospects you desire and do it in a way that no one will suspect anything. All we need to know is what you want and how much you are willing to spend.

NRO-SAS never has any incentive to report you because it will mean less return business for us. Why would anybody recommend us if we were whistle blowers??? Can you say the same thing if you pay off somebody in the admissions office??? No way. When you buy friends like that you ultimately pay them forever just to keep them quiet. That's an on-going problem you'll always have doing it your way. Doing it our way allows you to cheat the system with the confidence of knowing that we won't say a thing.

We discourage the "win now" approach because it attracts attention and can break your budget in a hurry. It's better to get a player or two every year so the program gives the appearance that it's building itself. It also keeps our costs down that way so we can pass the savings on to you. Do you really need a D1 prospect or do you merely want one??? Our database includes plenty of D2 and scholarship NAIA prospects to choose from and they look less suspicious on a D3 roster.

Once we've taken care of everything on our end we'll let you know when and how to inform your schools athletic department that they might want to take a look at a particular player. If you want somebody from the other side of the country please make sure he or she has a family member in your general area. Additional charges may apply if no family member lives within 75 miles of the campus.

E85 and can you use it ??

2006-10-17T21:51:00.000-05:00

Yes citizens, it's time for us to pretend that global warming does exist and pretend that we are going to do something about it. When in reality, if it does exist, I doubt we can do anything no matter what fuel we use. However, to pacify the tree huggers and other alarmists out there, lets buy a tank of E85 the next time we fill up to make ourselves feel better about ourselves; or at least to shut the global warming gang up for the time being.

Here's the deal. If you drive a 1988 or older vehicle I don't recommend using E85 unless you alternate on every fill up. Then again, if you have an 88 or older vehicle, how worried can you be about "possible" engine damage with long term use ? 1989 models and newer knock yourselves out. However, there is a drawback. Unless you have an FFV/E85 compatible vehicle you can expect to lose anywhere from 25%-33% in fuel economy. As I see it that pretty much evens out the savings you received at the pump for using it over regular petroleum. True, it might cost 1/3rd less but you get 1/3rd less miles per gallon. The exception being turbo-charged vehicles. They do quite well on E85 as it has a higher octane rating than is normally available with gasoline. Any change in mpg should be slight enough that it is not noticeable.

Aside from the loss in fuel economy the only thing you are likely to notice with a post 1988 non E85 vehicle is that the check engine light may come on when using it. This is caused by an increased oxygen level in the fuel mix as a result of the ethanol. Essentially this is the reason why you will use more fuel. What this does as far as emissions are concerned, well, there numerous theories about it. None of which I find to be conclusive.

Bigfoot doesn't live here

2006-09-21T15:37:00.000-05:00

Despite what the experts in rural trailer communities may profess, Bigfoot simply doesn't live here; nor has it ever. The alleged existence of such a being is widespread and appears in most every mythology of the world, that does not however make it true. Although many would like it to be so.

The mythological creature that is known through the verbal history of most peoples on earth is likely handed down stories of encounters with neanderthal man. Neanderthal and modern humans were around at the same time, briefly in historical terms, but limited interaction was likely; at least plausible. As modern man spread across the world the stories spread as well. Since there is no record of neanderthal ever reaching North America I calculate a .5% chance that Bigfoot is a relic population of neanderthal.

The remaining 99.5% can be explained as follows: 80% misidentification of a known species, 15% fabricated stories or hoaxed evidence, 4.4% that Bigfoot is a random occurrence of feral humans and .1% that it is an unknown primate. I'm leaning towards a 0% chance of an unknown primate in North America but statistical analysis does require a value. Aside from Japanese Macaques there aren't any other cold weather primates and no large cold weather primates in existence. Since the known primates don't hibernate I can't imagine one surviving here.

As for the rest of the world the percentages would shift slightly but remain relatively constant. If I were a betting man, and I am, my money would be placed on the verification of the Orang-pendek as a new species. Although when discovered it is not likely to be considered a Bigfoot by any means.

Feral Cat Hunting Strategies

2006-06-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

One of the most commonly asked questions I get about feral cat hunting is "how effective is a spot and stalk technique, or is it even worth trying". In my opinion it is extremely effective and is a must if you're hunting in an area with baiting restrictions. I maintain a research herd of two cats in my apartment. While you can't learn to pattern feral cats exactly from domestic stock observations, you can learn many vital secrets as their behaviors are similar.

For example when I try to sneak up on my Siamese he thinks it's a game and will run and hide in one of his favorite ambush spots. My other cat will simply give me a look like "what are you doing?' It's worth pointing that out as she was found in the woods as a kitten and will never be 100% tame. While she is a house cat now, she wasn't always and some of her feral traits persist to this day.

Unless you are in an area where the cats have a lot of hunting pressure it is not uncommon to be able to stalk within 10-15 feet of a feral cat before they pay you any attention. The key to this is to be as quiet as possible and avoid eye contact until you're ready to let him hold one.

Let the millions and millions decide.

2006-05-22T19:57:00.000-05:00

Since so many of you out there have been asking for an NRO t-shirt, The Roop has come up with two possible logos. Cast your vote and I'll get some Malaysian sweatshop cranking them out immediately.

OPTION 1

OPTION 2

Leave a comment on the blog or email me your vote.

Champs unveil new logo...........

2006-05-15T17:50:00.000-05:00

Yes indeed. The Alaska-Adak Sentrys have gone back to back in D4 and now this logo is available to all fans/members of the New Roop Order. Personally signed copies are available for $1800 each (The Roop needs major car repair).

Back to back for Adak

2006-03-19T20:11:00.000-06:00

Following the final telegraph time out in the semi final Alaska-Adak finished off Mount Pilot Central St. with a 10-0 run in the last minute to advance to the championship game with a 167-157 victory. The game was a rematch of the LNCUTMV Championship game and Adak got their revenge. The hot shooting carried over to today and Adak quickly opened a 15 point lead in the first 5 minutes of the title game against Bugtussle St. Bugtussle switched to a match up zone and took a 3 point lead at the break.

In the second half both teams traded baskets until the 10 minute mark when Bugtussle St. went cold from the field. Alaska-Adak pushed the lead back to double digits and the Beetles never had an answer. Some late 3s brought the final margin to 9 points but it was too little, too late as Alaska-Adak wins it's second consecutive D4 National Championship 87-78.

Southern NAIA Tech topped Mount Pilot Central St. 127-113 in the consolation game.

D4 Final Four set

2006-03-15T19:17:00.000-06:00

16 started and now only 4 remain. The often criticized LNCUTMV Conference made a clean sweep of the regionals and it will be an all LNCUTMV Final Four. The LNCUTMV made a controversial move this year by refusing to play non-conference games. All 8 of their teams qualified for this years tournament and half are still dancing.

Defending D4 Champ Alaska-Adak now 19-17 on the year won the Firewater College Regional with wins over fellow LNCUTMV member Daisy Moses Medical College and then ran the host Firewater College (IND) off their own floor to claim a return trip to Hooterville.

"System originator" Mount Pilot Central State 20-14 had little difficulty in the Los Robles-Carizzo Springs regional despite playing two LNCUTMV teams Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville was the victim in the first round and Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside fell in the second.

Southern NAIA Tech 21-12 hosted a regional at Sam Drucker Court at Haney Automotive Arena and quickly dispatched Forked Tongue University (MANIAC) and Morris Wanchuk (IND) to get to play on.

Rounding out the field is Bugtussle St. at 17-17. They are the lowest remaining seed having started out as the #10 team. They upset Trout Creek A&T (IND) in the first round and were the beneficiaries of another upset as #2 Reservation St. (MANIAC) fell to #15 Wisconsin A&M-Springstead (UCWI) on their home floor.

As previously stated the Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley (LNCUTMV) lead the way with 8 teams in the tournament, followed by the Minnesota and Northern Iowa Athletic Conference (MANIAC) and the Independents each with 3. The University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois had 2**.

**Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute @Ojibway (EIEIO) was selected to this years field as College of St. Redskin (IND) was ineligible due to insufficient non-medical red shirts.

Ruppert, come here...............

2006-03-14T14:58:00.000-06:00

First name when they want something, last name when I'm in trouble.

We had a customer come through for a visit today and they got there earlier than expected. So as I went through the pre-shift inspection I gave them a brief course on what the Hubtex was and some of the difficulties in driving it etc. One in the group was an obvious tree hugger type, not bad looking but had her hair pulled back and wasn't wearing any make up, so I thought I'd have a little environmental fun with her. Probably has a bumper sticker that says her other car is Birkenstocks. Anyway, I was brushing some oil on the mast and she asked how often we had to do that. I told her we used to do it every week when we were using grease but that we used whale oil now and it lasted twice as long.

"Whale oil" she exclaimed. "Yes. One of the maintenance guys has a brother in law that lives in Europe and he found a supplier for us. They ship it in a danish ham can so customs never questions it", I replied. A puzzled look came over her face and she seemed hesitant to ask me any more questions. About that time the Plant Manager arrived and took them on their tour. We have the oil in a ham can to throw off OSHA. They nailed us real good not long ago about not having things labeled properly so the ham can is used as a loop hole. If anybody questions it we just tell them that somebody must have brought it in for lunch. Since it's from a one pound ham it's a reasonably believable story.

Finally their tour was complete and they went in the office for a bit. I was glared at every time she saw me so I know she either bought the story or didn't appreciate the joke. Finally they left and Mike came out of his office. "Ruppert, come here. Would you mind telling me why I just spent the last 10 minutes explaining that our maintenance department was not illegally smuggling whale oil in from Europe" he asked. "Why am I always the one to be questioned when something unusual happens" I replied. "Don't change the subject, answer the question", he demanded. "Well, I might have mentioned something like that, they didn't believe me did they" I asked. Finally after a few seconds he chuckled. "No, you had the story sold until you mentioned the ham can. But she said she had to ask me about it because you told it so straight faced that she wasn't 100% sure about it. Next time laugh a little so they know you're kidding".

"Engineering" a turn around

2006-02-13T16:13:00.000-06:00

At the midway point of the LNCUTMV Conference season perennial also ran Southern NAIA Tech seemed poised for another year of mediocrity. However, the Engineers from Petticoat Junction have turned things around in recent weeks and have reeled off 9 straight wins to grab a two game lead with 6 games remaining. Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville seems to have shaken off the early season controversy, of having academically eligible players on their squad, and has gone 7-3 in their last 10 to even their record at 12-12.

Two weeks and 6 games left the standings are as follows:

...........................................................record....Last 10.......... streak

1st Southern NAIA Tech......................16-8........9-1.................W9
2nd Daisy Moses Medical College.........14-10......6-4.................L1
tie Mount Pilot Central St....................14-10......6-4................W2
4th Bugtussle St...................................13-11.....4-6................L2
5th Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville.....12-12.....7-3...............W1
6th Bodine Military Academy................9-15......5-5................W1
tie Pigs Kuckle Hollw-Creekside.............9-15......1-9................L1
tie Alaska-Adak**..................................9-15......2-8................L4

Tomorrows D4 coverage will feature the UCWI, MANIAC and Independent teams.

**Defending D4 National Champion.

Read the label.................

2006-01-17T16:29:00.000-06:00

There once was a time when we all hated Japan because it seemed the whole world was made in Japan. Now you'd be lucky to find anything made there as they've caught the outsourcing bug as bad as we have here. So let's pick on China now. No, lets not. Let's look in the mirror and find the root cause. While good ole "Brand X" may still have a corporate headquarters here in the states, where are the products actually made ?????? Anybody ever bother to look ??????? Efficiency is better, cheaper is not.

Take for example "The Roops" new steel toed boots. $99.99 on sale. They don't carry the $59.99 shoes I got nearly 3 years ago anymore. Sure "The Roop" could have gotten a $30 pair most any place, but they wouldn't last 3 years nor would they fit properly. I have verified this theory numerous times by 3 of 3's purchases. "They look cool and they were cheap". Then she would come home and complain about her feet killing her. $30 worth of inserts and special socks later and the $30 shoes weren't too bad anymore. Save for the fact they only lasted 3 months.

Yes, you get what you pay for. So while 3 of 3 only spent $30 at a time for shoes, she bought 10 pairs to "The Roops" one. And I'd still be wearing mine had I not left them at the folks over the weekend and decided that was a sign to get new ones. $105.?? with tax, company reimbursement of $75.00 so I have shoes for 3 years at the cost of $30.?? to me. Made in America, better yet made in Wisconsin and only a few miles away. Union made but nothing is perfect. Plus there are real sizes to choose from to fit real feet. Not the generic 10.5, or 10.5 wide that you might find at Mega-Retailers. How about a 10.5 EEE ???. You've got it, Hallelujah...................

If you've got kids that outgrow most anything in a few months, the Mega-Retailers are a God send for you. By all means keep shopping there. If your size hasn't changed in forever, spend your money wisely and when you can, buy American. It's harder to do than you think so read those labels. Brand names mean nothing anymore. To my knowledge New Balance is the only athletic shoe manufacturer that still has SOME models "assembled in America of imported materials". I've got a pair of those that are over 3 years old now, they still look like new.

While it is cheaper to pay $30 in the short term, it is more efficient to pay $100 once in 3 years. It's also worth noting that thousands of Americans now build what are still considered import cars. Even though they are built in America by Americans. Isn't it better to buy a "foreign" car with an 83% domestic content than it is to buy an "American" brand made entirely overseas ????? Cars, shoes, there isn't much difference. People cling to that brand name and swear by it without even looking at the country of origin.

Buy the best you can afford, no matter what it is, just be aware of what you're buying.

Here ends the lesson...........

Spirit of DIII at it's finest.

2005-12-28T21:59:00.000-06:00

With talk of some possible rule modification in the future, as it pertains to out of region games, let's look at a DIII program with a long and storied history. Beloit College. I won't site each case in which Beloit has defeated a team that is now a DI, because those games happened a long time ago, and possibly even in a galaxy far far away.......................

If rules are amended to allow out of region games to count as in region because they occur during holiday breaks, I really don't care. The occasional win against somebody from the other side of the country doesn't matter as much as what you do against teams you regularly face. For the sake of argument a "regular" opponent is someone that you have played 20 or more times. If you disagree with "The Roop", get your own blog and write your nonsense there.

Regular opponents for Beloit are as follows: Carleton, Carroll, Carthage, U of Chicago, Coe, Cornell, Grinnell, Illinois College, IIT (Armour Tech), Knox, Lake Forest, Lawrence, Monmouth, Northwestern (WI), Ripon, Rockford, St. Norbert, St. Olaf, Washington U, and Wheaton. Hard to believe that there are only 20 teams on that list. 14 of which are current or former conference members. Of the teams on the list only Carleton, St. Norbert and Washington U. have winning records against Beloit.

In conclusion, I don't see a need to modify any existing rules as there is already a way to count games against out of region opponents. It's called the NCAA Tournament. Win your in region games first and then you can go after bragging rights games when they matter most. Here ends the lesson.....................

Saints Rest or bust............

2005-12-01T01:55:00.000-06:00

As expected it sounds like there will be many in attendance for the "Grand Roopening" on Friday, I hope everyone has a safe trip there and back home again. Paparazzi should not be a problem as "The Roop" has switched from using doubles this year to clones instead. Thanks to the revenue sharing plan that the D4 schools have, Daisy Moses Medical College has created one of the finest genetics labs in the country; so creating the clones was not a problem. The use of doubles in the past for personal appearances was not without it's problems. Doubles could learn "The Roops" mannerisms, but could never get the voice quite right. Those in attendance will quickly realize why "The Roop" will never record an album. Trust me, it's more irritating than junk email.

The only downside for this weekend is that I'll only have one of my clones available. The other one is chairing a MENSA Seminar the same day and can't assist. So the plan is to switch cars with the other one somewhere west of Rockford and hopefully send the media circus on to Decorah so the Saints Rest crowd can fully enjoy the "Roop Experience" in peace.

While I never disclose what my personal appearance fee is, I can say that it is sufficient in this case for me to do a limited number of mug signings while I am there. However, under no circumstances will I autograph waffles. Photos with "The Roop" will be available for a fee, unless you are a right wing conservative; then of course there will be no charge. Video greetings to send to a friend or family member can be made, for a bigger fee naturally. Your language choices for the greetings are limited, in descending order, to English, Russian and Spanish.

I hope everyone enjoys their visit but only Beloit fans will enjoy the game.

D4 Independents catch a break.

2005-11-23T03:01:00.000-06:00

With the Holiday break looming, contracts have been signed which will enable the D4 Independent teams to reach the 30 game minimum required for post season play. The U.C.W.I. has received 4 D5 applications for membership to their conference for the 2006-2007 season and a round robin event will be held this year. Games against St. Academia, Nazarene Baptist, Sinai Lutheran and Accredited College will count towards D4 games this season.

Additionally, the D4 Independents will also have home and home games with D1 Electoral College.

D4 expansion teams impressive in debut.

2005-11-19T23:30:00.000-06:00

The final standings in the PowerNet Mobile Non-LNCUTMV Tournament are as follows:

1st Firewater College 3-0
tie Reservation State 3-0
3rd College of St. Redskin 2-1
tie Los Robles-Carrizo Springs 2-1
tie Morris Wanchuk University 2-1
tie Trout Creek A&T 2-1
7th Forked Tongue University 1-2
tie Wisconsin A&M-Springstead 1-2
tie E.I.E.I.O. 1-2
tie Lake Bandini College 1-2
11th Illinois-Nottingham County 0-3
tie Duane Churkey School of Eng.0-3

The M.A.N.I.A.C. compiled an impressive 9-3 record during the event. Even more impressive is the fact that only one of the losses was to someone outside their conference. The independents went 7-5 while the U.C.W.I., who produced last years national runner up, went 2-10; with two of their new teams going winless.

The season opening LNCUTMV Tournament was not without surprises either as perennial powerhouse Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville dropped all 3 of their games to finish last.

1st Daisy Moses Medical College 3-0
2nd Bugtussle State 2-1
3rd Bodine Military Academy 2-1
4th Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 1-2
5th Southern NAIA Tech 2-1
6th Alaska-Adak 1-2
7th Mount Pilot Central State 1-2
8th Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 0-3

Since no one entered this weeks "Pick em" contest, the prize fund ($0) will carry over to the next scheduled weekend of play. Which will be 12/2, 12/3 and 12/4*

* for LNCUTMV games only

D4 Season kicks off with 2 Tournaments

2005-11-17T11:49:00.000-06:00

All 20 D4 teams will be participating in two season opening tournaments starting Friday. Pairings for the Non-LNCUTMV Invitational, hosted by Wisconsin A&M-Springstead and Presented by PowerNet Mobile. Official cellular provider of "The Roop" are as follows:

College of St. Redskin (M.A.N.I.A.C.)
Illinois-Nottingham County (U.C.W.I.)

Los Robles-Carrizo Springs (IND.)
Morris Wanchuk (IND.)

Forked Tongue U. (M.A.N.I.A.C.)
Firewater College (M.A.N.I.A.C.)

WI A&M-Springstead (U.C.W.I.)
E.I.E.I.O. (U.C.W.I.)

Lake Bandini College (IND.)
Trout Creek A&T (IND.)

Duane Churkey School of Eng. (U.C.W.I.)
Reservation State (M.A.N.I.A.C.)

Since it's impossible to evenly bracket a 12 team tournament the top 8 teams listed will compete in the Championship bracket and the lower 4 teams will be in the Field bracket. It is possible for teams in the Field bracket to play each other twice in the three game event. It is also possible to have two undefeated and two 0-3s at the completion of the Tournament. Pairings for the tournament were a blind draw and there will be 2 in-conference match ups in the first round. These will of course be considered non-conference games as far as the remainder of the season goes.

A "Pick em" is available for this tournament but you need to count the games correctly to determine the match ups in the Field bracket for the final day of competition. Game 9 winner will face game 12 winner and game 9 loser will face game 12 loser.

In the LNCUTMV Conference Tip Off Tournament the pairings are as follows:

Alaska-Adak
Daisy Moses Medical College

Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside
Mount Pilot Central State

Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville
Bodine Military Academy

Bugtussle State
Southern NAIA Tech

"Pick em" contest is also available.

Games will be played in the newly remodeled and renamed Sam Drucker Court at Haney Automotive Arena.

Conference games only for the LNCUTMV

2005-09-06T19:11:00.000-05:00

With this years D4 expansion many had hoped for a round robin type of non-conference schedule amongst the 20 teams. However, the Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference refused to break with tradition and will not schedule any non-conference opponents. Their argument is that having an out of region National Champion, Alaska-Adak, already in the conference does not require them to play any more games than they want to. Home Exhibition games versus D1 Electoral College will still be permitted. This has left the MANIAC, UCWI and Independent teams struggling to schedule enough games to make the 30 game minimum required for post season play.

A series of non-conference "Challenge Tournaments" have been planned but many are concerned how the Independent teams will benefit as all of the games would be out of region for them. A provisional tender has been offered in which Independents may play International teams and have those games count towards the 30 game D4 minimum for post season play. Similarly a proposal for all games played between D4 teams, regardless of region, will count.

Things that work on paper.

2005-08-19T23:31:00.000-05:00

Stepping away from the D4 Universe for a moment, although I'm sure I'll tie this in somehow at a later date, allow me to tell about our new suggestion program at work. It's called Gain Share. In theory it is a profit sharing program but in reality it's a Scanlon Average Bonus disguised by another name. The short version is that you can get a bonus for implementing new ideas but each time you get a bonus it makes it harder to get the next one.

One of the suits observed a forklift changing out skids at the caustic tank the other day and decided that the entire Die Shop should be rearranged. That way one of the Hubtex (large side loading forklift) could take care of the entire process. What the suit failed to take into consideration is that a forklift only changes the skids at the caustic tank when the Hubtex are busy. This didn't stop the new idea from at least getting started. I rolled my eyes when my lead told me what we would have to do that day; when I came up with an idea. And it works on paper so it must be a good one............................. Instead of rearranging an entire department, why not tether a balloon to the roof and attach the battery lift to it. That way the balloon could hover above the plant and pick anything up whenever anything needed picking up.

A couple days later I realized the limitations of a crane type lift and decided we should use a trained octopus instead. Octopi are supposedly smarter than dogs so I'm sure one could be trained in the lifting arts. We would no longer need forklifts or Hubtex and could eliminate 2 or 3 positions as we would only need one person to remotely pilot the balloon. Wow, what a great cost savings. I should write that up. I don't have all the details worked out yet but the illustration should give you some idea of the plans effectiveness.

D4 expands as result of new regulations.

2005-08-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

While some organizations believe increased regulations have positive impacts on their sporting events. We at D4 frown upon rules and that is why we only have one. (please read the "Why are there no scholarship D4s" post) D4 is proud to welcome 4 new teams for this upcoming season. College of St. Redskin "Gangstazz", Reservation State "Missionarys", Firewater College "Addicts" and the Forked Tongue University "Spin Doctors". The teams will compete in the newly formed Minnesota and Northern Iowa Athletic Conference (M.A.N.I.A.C.) and will have automatic bids for the regular season and conference tournament champions.

College of St. Redskin will be a provisional D4 member for the moment as they don't have enough non-medical redshirts to qualify for post season play. However, should they get enough redshirts to transfer from other schools they will be allowed in the big dance, hereafter referred to as the Pow Wow.

This will bring the total number of D4 teams to 20 as Michigan A&T-Trout Creek (A&T stands for Archery and Trapping), UT-Carrizo Springs, Morris Wanchuk University and Cal State 29 Palms have joined as Independents. 80% of D4 goes to the Pow Wow so this year it will be a 16 team field.

Why are there no scholarship D4s ??

2005-07-31T08:53:00.000-05:00

That question, or variations of it, is perhaps the most commonly asked about D4. At the moment there are no scholarship D4 teams, although it is not prohibited. Schools simply don't need to award them. The D4 rule book is as follows:

No player (I say player because student-athlete isn't applicable to D4) may be on the payroll of a member institution, nor may they receive gifts or compensation from anyone that is.

End of rule book. We figured one rule was enough.

At the heart of D4 philosophy is athletics and making money from it. The more rules you have the more likely you are to need a compliance office to make sure that taking a letter to the post office for a player is not a violation of some kind. Boosters, Alums and "Friends of the Program" are the ones that pay the bills by coming to the games. So with only one rule, these people pretty much run the programs. Which is how we want it at this level.

A key ingredient to any efficient program is to not ask too many questions, especially when it comes to money and where it came from. Since the players are not being compensated by member schools, or by anyone that is, we preserve the integrity of the sport and amateur status of the players. If a Booster wants to buy a kid a Lexus, we don't care. The IRS then becomes our compliance office. Whether you have to walk around campus or roll in an $80,000 ride, it in no way effects the outcome of sporting events so it is not a concern.

Most of the players in the LNCUTMV have Lexus, Hummers, Escalades and the like. However, Bugtussle State Alums tend not to be so affluent but you will still see a few tricked out Kias and Hyundais with spinners around campus. Schools have the option of simply looking the other way by claiming that they don't support such practices so everybody wins.

An unwritten rule of D4 is that "if tuitions paid, you're cleared to play". High GPAs don't put as many people in the stands as a 30 ppg average player does.

Why 3 games in 3 days works.

2005-07-27T14:51:00.000-05:00

The 2005-2006 season has just ended and the 60, 61, 62 or 63 teams have been selected for the field. I'll use the theoretical Midwest Region as an example, although I think similar scenarios would play out elsewhere; probably not in the West though. North Park and Wheaton make it from the CCIW while Beloit and Carroll make it out of the MWC. All other teams in those conferences were declared ineligible for awarding non-athletic athletic scholarships per the new NCAA rule. Although Wheaton would have likely made it anyway. Transylvania gets the Heartland, Edgewood from the LMC, Aurora from the NIIC (Pool B) and Washington U. gets the UAA birth and stays in region. If I missed a conference this is all in fun anyway.

Now The Roop acts as tournament director and seeds the region as economically as possible. North Park hosts as it is the most centrally located, that way only Washington U. and Transy will need hotel rooms Wednesday night. Beloit and Edgewood might need rooms, but only if they won on Thursday, everyone else is within an easy commute. Since I don't want to spend more money than I have to on housing Washington will play Transy in the opening round and Edgewood will face Beloit. That way 2 of the 4 teams that may need hotels will be eliminated. These will be the Thursday afternoon games so the losers will be home by normal bedtime. Thursday evening will feature Carroll vs. North Park and Wheaton vs. Aurora. None of those teams will even miss a class.

1st round: Washington over Transylvania, North Park over Carroll, Aurora over Wheaton and Edgewood over Beloit. So far I've only spent money on 10 rooms for one night. I'm just guessing that 5 rooms is sufficient for a team. As an NCAAA official I am secretly upset that Transy lost because they are the closest team to Salem in this region, it would have been cheaper for me if they advanced to the Elite 8.

2nd round: Washington downs North Park, woops, the host is gone and Edgewood sends Aurora home. Since Edgewood inherited Transylvanias rooms at the hotel I have now only spent money on 10 rooms for two nights.

Championship game: With the host and all other immediately local teams ousted, nobody will want to see this game so it will be a 1:00PM start on Saturday. That way I don't have to spend anymore of the NCAAs money on housing. Edgewood wins, they are going to Salem for what would be the Elite 8. Housing cost for the regional is 10 rooms for 3 nights. Which would be what ? $1,500 maybe.

Since none of the teams had to be flown here the only other expenses are a few bucks a team for gas money and a little per diem. Tournament t-shirts and pizza after each game for the players, etc. Two nights the arena was packed so the 150 in the stands for the championship game didn't really hurt. We took in $15,750 (3150 attendance x $5 a person) for the 3 day regional and our expenses were only about $4000. So we made $11,750 for this event which should more than cover flying Edgewood to the finals. More importantly only 8 class days would need to be missed for an average of one day per team. Washington would miss 3, Transylvania 2 (they travel the farthest but would be home in time Thursday evening to easily make class on Friday) Edgewood 2 and Beloit 1.

Winning teams were determined by a coin toss. For entertainment purposes only in other words.

D4 talks Turkey

2005-07-25T20:49:00.000-05:00

Negotiations went well this weekend and the Springstead 3D Archery range, home of Wisconsin A&M-Springstead, has been renamed Lowermyphone.com Arena. One name change deserves another and WAMS is considering a new mascot as well. Porcupine numbers are down in the area thanks to a stocking of Fishers. Wild Turkey numbers, however, are on the rise thanks to the State of Wisconsin not doing anything other than claiming that Wild Turkeys don't live north of Hwy 8.

I've heard several people in recent years say that they had them on their property. A few months back my uncle said he had a mother and 10 chicks in his front yard. This morning I was able to catch them crossing the road and had a camera handy. I couldn't count, drive and photograph at the same time but it looks like all 11 are alive and well; even though they're not supposed to be there.

So for the 2005-2006 season Wisconsin A&M-Springstead will cease to be the Porcupines and become the Gobblers. The name change is not Sith related.

Champs roll in Russia

2005-07-22T20:49:00.000-05:00

Defending D4 Champ Alaska-Adak continued their winning ways by capturing the First Annual PowerNet Global International Exhibition Tournament in Omsk, Russia. In a rematch of last years D4 Championship game Alaska-Adak took care of E.I.E.I.O. 97-86, then upended fellow LNCUTMV Conference member Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 78-70 to capture the title.

Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside reached the championship game by ousting the host, and a very outclassed, Omsk State Pedagogical University 112-56. O.S.P.U. rebounded in the consolation game and downed E.I.E.I.O. 67-64. E.I.E.I.O. had a commanding halftime lead but substituted freely in the second half allowing their bench to gain valuable experience.

It's hard to take a lot from an exhibition tournament, but it was a very good showing for D4 and the LNCUTMV Conference in general. Pre-season rankings are as follows:

Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley

Daisy Moses Medical College
Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville
Mount Pilot Central State
Alaska-Adak
Bugtussle State
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside
Southern NAIA Tech
Bodine Military Academy

University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois

Wisconsin A&M-Springstead
Exeland Institute/Edewater Institute @Ojibway
Duane Churkey School of Engineering
University of Illinois-Nottingham County

Madison approves of D4 Russia trip

2005-07-12T18:12:00.000-05:00

I knew it wouldn't take long folks. The Peoples Republic of Madison have expressed their support of D4s trip to Russia. The evidence is clearly seen in the "left turn" only sign in the propaganda photo they provided.

East meets West when D4 travels to Siberia

2005-07-12T15:47:00.000-05:00

In the most unlikely match up since Rocky Balboa faced Ivan Drago. 3 D4 teams have been invited to the Former Soviet Union to participate in a Goodwill Exhibition Tournament. Defending D4 Champ Alaska-Adak and fellow Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference member Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside, along with Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute @Ojibway (EIEIO) from the University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois will be traveling to Russia for an event to be hosted by Omsk State Pedagogical University.

I know it might have been better for OSPU to come here and defeat the D4 runner up, then play Alaska-Adak in Russia as a sort of revenge match, but that would be too much of a cliche.

Despite their emphasis on academics the OSPU Irtysh River Pirates have managed to recruit a line up consisting entirely of 7 footers. However, this is their first season at the varsity level and it will be interesting to see how they handle the seasoned veterans from the D4 teams. Two of the three D4s have at least four 6th year seniors so experience will have to go to the Americans.

Typically D4 teams don't compete against "real" Universities, but since this blog doesn't get many visitors, I don't think The Roop will be liable for mentioning them. Similarly, the tournament is sponsored by Power Net Global. Official long distance provider of The Roop.

The first game will feature Alaska-Adak vs. E.I.E.I.O. on Friday at 7:00AM C.S.T. OSPU and Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside will square off approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Consolation and Championship games will be on Saturday.

Can Point 3-Peat ????

2005-07-04T11:04:00.000-05:00

I don't think about Point much these days but I had no choice as I passed both exits on my way home today. Actually there are 3 exits that will get you there but only 2 are "official" Stevens Point exits.

What will their season hold for them. Are they rebuilding or reloading ????? Coach Bennett had a good comment on that subject at the end of last season. "We lose some key players but keep in mind that the underclassmen have been practicing against the National Champs everyday for two years". A very good point indeed. Love it or hate it, when the WIAC is strong they generally produce the National Champion.

Platteville is on the rise and Whitewater is also very good. If they can avoid the early season upsets they might grab a Pool C and be headed to Salem to cut down the nets this year. Hopefully the expanded field will allow more than one team in. That probably knocks out any chance of the MWC getting multiple teams in, but is it that likely anyway; hard to say............

From memory there have been 30 D3 Tournaments now and the WIAC has 11 Championships I believe, when you consider that they've only had consistent representation for the past 20 years, the conference wins it about half the time. Back in the WSUC days it was a mixed bag of D2, D3 and NAIA and therefore, no automatic bid. So until somebody stops the Pointers I think they are still the favorite.

I haven't perfected my time machine yet, so there is no way of comparing the 3-peat North Park teams with todays Stevens Point teams. Talent would have to go to North Park, but how would they handle the shot clock, 3 point basket and alternate possession ???? These are questions that nobody seems to consider when making comparisons. What about TV time outs if the game were televised ????? Seems ESPN may throw some more bones to small college ball in the future so that is also something to keep in mind. What if what it what if...........

D4 goes corporate

2005-06-03T16:35:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately the D4 Women's Arena Softball season was cancelled due to environmental concerns at Sam Drucker Arena. The Floodwaters never receded at Hank Kimball Field and after a colony of snail darters were found nesting near the right field line. The entire area was considered a historic wetland and Sam Drucker Arena fell within the boundaries that were annexed for preservation. No need to fear, sure D4 had to dump some women's sports that nobody cared about, but nobody cared about it.

Mens hoops will go forward and D4, as well as the LNCUTMV Conference, will survive as a deal has just been signed to build the new "Sam Drucker Court at Haney Automotive Fieldhouse". Details have not been released as of this time but the "New House" is expected to seat approximately 75-80 people. (Not including luxury suites). Several thousand dollars have been committed to this project and it is even rumored that cuspidors will be installed in the general seating areas. Whether they will be used or not, no one knows.

The catering contract for "Sam Drucker Court at Haney Automotive Fieldhouse" has been awarded to the Lisa Douglas Culinary Institute; so the normal concessions may change somewhat. Barbecued Chicken in Aluminum Foil and Moon Pies will still be available. LDCI is a provisional member and they will compete as soon as D4 women's athletics have a following.

D4 and the LNCUTMV Conference have always shunned corporate involvement in any of their concerns but since it was Haney Automotive that came to the table; it is nice to see that our "dealings" will be kept local. Cock Fighting remains a Club Sport unfortunately but an "exhibition tournament" is scheduled somewhere in Central America, or Kentucky. Both places are third world countries so nobody will care.

Where to begin...................

2005-04-27T16:40:00.000-05:00

I thought about it long and hard as to whether or not I should tell another car story, because I doubt that anyone would believe it could get any worse. OK, I will tell another car story and guess what.............. it's worse.

Finally at long last The Roops Federal refund arrived in the mail. Hallelujah, now there is money to fix the car. Had it towed in on a Wednesday and after a Q & A with the Service Manager he determined that it could be almost anything. Tell The Roop about it............. The Roop already knew that. Thursday afternoons conversation revealed that the car would be ready Friday. Can't remember everything he said was wrong, as to why it wouldn't start that is (although I was only two cylinders off when I tried to align the distributer blind) but he did mention that it was terribly flooded. Terribly flooded is an understatement as it had sat not running for over 3 months. Cars generally un-flood themselves after a time, etc.

That's not the major issue it seems. Apparently the timing chain is about shot and I have low oil pressure. It's not worth fixing the timing chain because that won't help oil pressure anyway. I also have a problem with a valve in the fuel system. Luckily this is a convenience type of thing if I don't fix it. Might have to give it gas to start it and to keep it running at intersections. HELLO...................... it's a carburated engine, that's fairly common for older cars.

Back to the oil pressure. In a nut shell the car is up and running, however, the engine may last another 10,000 miles or die on the way home from the shop. Thank you, that is just what The Roop wanted to hear. Friday morning. On the very day that I am to pick up car #1 from the shop, I hit a rock backing out of my parking stall on my way to work and broke an axle on car #2. Car #2 has 276,000 miles on it so I am not surprised that things like that happen, but could the timing be any worse???? Of course not. That is the essence of being The Roop.

So now one car is officially down for the count and the other has one foot in the grave. Needless to say I didn't make it to work that day. Not that I couldn't have. Hell I can walk there in 11 minutes or ride my bike in 4. Enough was enough however and calling in was deemed an appropriate decision. Dr. Austin Nichols soothed my nerves for the better part of that day and I felt much better.

FYI Austin Nichols makes Wild Turkey.

Many apologies folks.

2005-04-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

The Roop doesn't know what merging a server means but whatever it means Verizon did it. To The Roop it meant no internet for several days and in the aftermath it meant that The Roops ISP didn't function normally.

I know that everyone of the millions, and I mean millions, of The Roops fans have been anxiously awaiting the start of the LNCUTMV Womens Softball. The Roop has good news and The Roop has bad news...................... Bad news first. Hank Kimball Field has recently been declared a National Landmark as a school of snail darters were discovered nesting near the right field foul pole. This being said a dam will be constructed so that the snail darters will survive.

Good news................ The LNCUTMV Womens Softball season will go forward. However, it will be Indoor Softball held in Sam Drucker Arena. Appropriate netting is currently being installed and a 16" ball will be used. 16" Womens Arena Softball is the best that the LNCUTMV Conference can do at this point but the season will start this weekend. Friday, Saturday and Sunday games are planned.

The D4AA has announced that competition will be sanctioned under this format and the UCWI season will count as well. The request of Duane Churkey School of Engineering @South Beloit for a name change has also been approved. They will compete as the University of South Beloit and will be considered an Independent this year. The Roops former boss saw the website and asked nicely. The Roops point was proven.

USB creates many possible computer scenarios for this season and for the upcoming basketball season as well. Many teams from the USB system are expected to join D4. Just plug in and go is the feeling here. University of South Beloit-Roscoe is one of the many USB teams expected to join the UCWI, or perhaps they will form their own conference. The USBIAC maybe. D4 could be as many as 40 teams next year. How can anyone ignore that excitement.

When The Roop says it, it will be done. There are no questionable seedings in the D4 Tournament. What The Roop wants to see most is for teams to rise up and win when they should. A 14-16 National Champion is nice, but where were the real players in this years D4 Tournament?????

On Wisconsin On Wisconsin Grand Old "Basketball" State

2005-03-22T17:15:00.000-06:00

Not many people think of us around here as a Hoops Dynasty, so lets take a look at this year.................

Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute at Ojibwa. This years D4 runner up.
UW-Stevens Point. Two time D3 Champs. (aka Stevens Point Invitational winners)
In D2...................... nobody really cares about D2 but I'm sure UW-Parkside did win a game.
Finally we have UW-Milwaukee and Wisconsin in the D1 Sweet 16.

Things have been falling right for the Badgers thus far and the Panthers have been paving their own way. It's not that shocking as they had Notre Dame beat last year until a freak lay up at the end. Not sure of their chances against the Illini but Milwaukee is closer to Chicago than is Champaign, so it could be a home game for them and not Illinois. If they keep it under control and limit the stupid fouls this could be another upset in the making.

I like Wisconsins chances in Syracuse, no wait, lets change things up. I like UW-Madisons chances against NC St. Not just because it's a 6 vs. 10 match up but because Carolina will be playing in the same building and I'm sure they will be Badger fans to spite their in-state rival. Personally I'm a Villanova fan right now. I realize that's looking ahead a bit but I'd rather face them than the Tar Heels. Villanova doesn't need to win, although it would be nice, as long as they wear down Carolina that may be enough.

Looking even further ahead, UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison are on opposite sides of the bracket. Could it be an All UW-Somebody Championship.............. Wouldn't the NCAA love that.

In the LNCUTMV, the water is still too high for teams to use Hank Kimball Field but infield practice has begun in Sam Drucker Arena.

LNCUTMV to have womens softball.

2005-03-15T21:18:00.000-06:00

It took quite some doing but the Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference will have varsity competition in Women's Softball this year. The idea had been on the table for a few years but only recently has a suitable location been obtained. Hank Kimball Field was recently completed as Hank is letting a few acres go fallow this year. No word yet on official D4 recognition as it is uncertain if the UCWI will be following suit with women's sports.

Bodine Military Academy, a charter member of the LNCUTMV, will not be participating as their student body does not have a sufficient number of female cadets to field a team this year. It will still be an 8 team league however as the "Hotscakes" of Lisa Douglas Culinary have been extended an invitation in BMAs absence. The "Hotscakes" have had a Club Team for several seasons and are expected to be very competitive at the varsity level.

Scheduling and Divisional alignments have yet to be determined but a 40 game season is expected. The season will start as soon as the flooding recedes and right field is accessible. Until then, the catfish are really biting near the foul pole. Drifting shiners and stink bait into fair territory just after dark has produced the best results.

Do I have to say it ????? Mighty Lakeland...........

2005-03-12T15:01:00.000-06:00

That's right. The Mighty Lakeland Muskies of the LMC. What's so special about them you ask ??? They came the closer to UW-Stevens Point than any of the other non-conference opponents have thus far, losing by a respectable 11 points 70-59 at Lakeland earlier this year. Love em or hate em UW-SP is simply that good. Their average margin of victory in non-conference games is 24.7 points and I don't expect that to change much the rest of the way.

Does Trinity stand a chance tonight ??? Yes I think so because they've been there before. What I mean by that is they have played on the road at a D1 school this year, just like they will tonight. So experience is on their side. Go Trinity................. and have a save trip home tomorrow.

In reviewing the other possible contestants in this years UW-SP Invitational.................. I see no good reason to stop calling it the UW-SP Invitational. Kings or York will certainly be a bye as that is a questionable section at best. Then for the repeat it will be Rochester, Potsdam St., Albion or Calvin. I don't understand why Calvin was a #9 this year because they haven't had a game since the first round. Not sure they can do it on the road again though.

Potsdam St. is suspect so I have to go with Rochester in that one. And with Rochester again over Albion. This gives us Rochester vs. UW-SP in the formality. Let's see, is there a common opponent that I can base this on ??? Yes. UW-Superior won at Rochester this year then lost to Point 3 times by an average margin of 26.7 points.

Sorry D3 fans but Trinity is the last best hope to challenge Point in this years tournament. Congratulations to Puget Sound. They came closer this year than last and actually showed up in the second half, for a while. Not bad for a team that only beat Buena Vista by 3 at home.

Only in Wisconsin.........

2005-03-09T20:46:00.001-06:00

Time does not permit me to go into detail regarding my opinions of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. WDNR for short. Personally I think it stands for We Defy Normal Reasoning, anyway............

On April 11th the Conservation Congress will be having a vote to determine whether or not feral cats are to be placed on the non-protected species list. If they do so, anyone with a small game license will be able to hunt them. Granted the feral cats kill lots of songbirds and serve no real purpose, but why does Wisconsin think somebody might actually go cat hunting????

Personally I think this would be a good use for the .17HMR or new .204 but since 95% of the feral cats live in town or so close to populated areas that hunting wouldn't be allowed anyway. What's next, an "archery only" cat hunt???? After reading the story in the paper I was amused by this enough to venture out to Gander Mountain, I rarely need an excuse to go there but today I had one, in hopes that they stocked ahead for the opening day of cat season. I had no luck. Specifically I was looking for a Mojo Tabby because we all know how well they lure in feral cats. For you non-hunters Mojo is a company that makes motion decoys. They are as silly as they are expensive. In other words I want some but don't have any.

In lieu of my Mojo Tabby another thought came to mind as I happen know my Siamese likes Blueberry yogurt. Why he likes it I don't know and he won't tell me. In reviewing the Wisconsin Hunting Regulations, which should qualify me for a degree from somewhere, I was reminded that meat or live bait for hunting purposes is illegal. Yogurt is live because of the active yeast cultures and therefore illegal. Damn. Looks like the remaining 5% of the feral cat population is safe from me. I'm guessing that this vote will pass now.

P.S. I wasn't able to locate any "cat calls" during my shopping trip either.

D4 isn't that far fetched

2005-03-09T05:27:00.000-06:00

It's all in good fun but I've noticed some similarities to D4 in what has been going on in other tournaments recently. Wisconsin A&M-Springstead upset E.I.E.I.O. after being fouled with no time left on the clock. A week later the Wooster/Albion game experienced a similar phenomenon; albeit not on a 75ft 3 pointer.

Alaska-Adak, a 14-16 National Champion. I don't know if it will happen or not but I discovered a 14-20 Tennessee Wesleyan team that is in the NAIA D2 National Tournament after winning 4 games in their conference tournament to get there. What I don't understand is that they won every game pretty convincingly. How do you go 10-20 and then get hot like that. One thing is for sure, they are definitely on a roll and if they survive the first game it may be theirs to win.

I joke about a sub .500 National Champion and the NAIA is taking me seriously. That makes sense.

The I.V. that saved D IV

2005-03-08T15:36:00.000-06:00

Normally roman numerals aren't used on the site as most schools in D4 don't have the academic standards to know how to read them. But in this case it made for a humorous play on words so I did it.

The Roop was down for the count last week and the D4 Tournament in jeopardy. Finally after a second visit treatment was administered, The Roop felt better and the Tournament was saved.

Only a Daisy Moses Medical College alum could have complicated an I.V. to this extent.

Alaska-Adak cut down the nets

2005-03-06T19:31:00.000-06:00

If the shoe fits, or in the case, the glass slipper. Wear it.................

In one of the most unlikely championship match ups in history the 13-16, now 14-16 Alaska-Adak Sentries downed the upstart E.I.E.I.O. Feral Hogs 77-74 to win the first ever D4 National Championship. Proving once again that any long shot has a chance as long as they get to play the game on the court.

E.I.E.I.O. had seemingly tied the game and sent it into overtime as Alaska-Adak was called for goal tending at the buzzer. After reviewing the final play (a fan in the audience had a betamax) the officials ruled that the shot had first made contact with one of the ceiling rafters; thereby nullifying the the violation. After last years Bush Hog accident the ceiling at the north end of Sam Drucker Arena is lower than the south end, etc. This secured the Championship for Alaska-Adak and the LNCUTMV Conference.

It was a tale of 3 seasons for Adak this year as they started out strong and were only a game back of first place after three weeks. Then they fell off the map for a while but snuck into the tournament by going 2-1 on the final weekend to edge out Bodine Military Academy for the 6th and final bid from the LNCUTMV. Then in the post season it was all Alaska as they went virtually unchallenged until the final game.

Other results are as follows:

3rd place Bugtussle State 107 Southern NAIA Tech 85
5th place *Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 307 Mount Pilot Central State 298 (7ot)
**7th place Wisconsin A&M-Springstead 27 Daisy Moses Medical College 19

*In winning the 5th place game Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville has become the first 20 game winner in the 2 year history of D4. Finishing the season at 20-13.
**Game stopped at half-time as both teams had fouled out.

Seedings explained. Unlike some organizations D4 is happy to share information about why certain teams were placed where they were. There will always be anomalies but I think this years bracket was as fair as possible given the circumstances.

In the South this year it was DMMC, AK-Adak, MPC St. and SNT. DMMC won the regular season title in their conference and had, at the time, the best record in D4; so you can't move them out of region. SNT, despite their record, won the conference tournament and were guaranteed to stay close to home. MPC St. had the 2nd best regular season record in D4 and stayed in region for that reason. AK-Adak was expected to be a one and done so they didn't get moved in order to balance the brackets.

The North featured SNT-H, E.I.E.I.O., WAMS and Bugtussle St. SNT-H faded at the end of the year and wound up 3rd in their conference, they were also upset in their conference tournament so there was no choice but to move them. Bugtussle State lost in the LNCUTMV play in game and there was simply no way to keep them in region. E.I.E.I.O. and WAMS only had 5 regular season games between them. In short it was too difficult to compare them to other teams in D4 so they had to stay in region by proxy. It has also been speculated that they were kept in the same region to avoid the possibility of an All UCWI Championship. While that rumor cannot be confirmed or denied it is standard procedure, at any level, for first year conferences to not get the respect that they may deserve. At least in D4 they weren't paired together in the first round.

It has been a great year in D4 and next year appears to be equally bright as the UCWI is expanding and will actually have a team from Illinois. Perhaps even two teams from Illinois as the University of Illinois-Nottingham County "Sheriffs" have requested membership for the 2005-2006 season. If anyone knows of other schools that would like to participate in D4 please let "The Roop" know.

Civil War in D4 ??

2005-03-05T16:04:00.000-06:00

Will the South rise again ??? Tonight we will see as the South Region Champion Alaska-Adak Sentries from the LNCUTMV will be taking on the North Region Champion Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute @Ojibwa (E.I.E.I.O.) Feral Hogs from the UCWI.

@Sam Drucker Arena
E.I.E.I.O. obviously took notes during their low scoring regular season battles against defense oriented Wisconsin A&M-Springstead and held serve against an equally stingy Bugtussle State 49-43. If it has been said once it has been said 1000 times. Play defense, make your free throws and you will win. The Beetle defense was not the problem but 1 for 9 shooting from the charity stripe in the final two minutes sealed States fate.

In the other semi-final Alaska-Adak simply had too much for Southern NAIA Tech as they bounced the Engineers 87-67. Southern NAIA Tech appeared to run out of gas in the second half as Alaska-Adak was the fresher of the two teams. Perhaps not qualifying for their own conference tournament is paying dividends for them right now as they had plenty of rest before the National Tournament started.

@Mercer K-12 School
The consolation bracket featured another LNCUTMV-UCWI match up as the Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville Ziffles squared off against the host team Wisconsin A&M-Springstead Porcupines. The Porcupine philosophy of backing in the lane to get points in the paint was rendered ineffective against SNT-H as the taller more athletic Ziffles (Named after the farmer not the pig. Kind of like the St. Louis Bilikens are named after a former coach) controlled the glass on both ends. WAMS hung around for a while but fell 83-56.

The Mules of Daisy Moses Medical College once again battled toe to toe with "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State for a half but this time the Possums did not get killed on the road as they cruised 197-146. DMMC has now lost 3 straight after clinching the LNCUTMV Regular Season Championship.

Tonights action is as follows:
@Mercer K-12 School
7th place 3-4 Wisconsin A&M-Springstead vs. 19-12 Daisy Moses Medical College
5th place 19-12 Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville vs. 18-13 Mount Pilot Central State

@Sam Drucker Arena
3rd place 15-15 Bugtussle State vs. 17-15 Southern NAIA Tech
And in the D4 National Championship 13-16 Alaska-Adak vs. 4-2 E.I.E.I.O.

Worth a 1000 words maybe, but no points

2005-03-04T15:16:00.000-06:00

It is not often that "The Roop" directly references another source of Hoops information but please check out the photo gallery of the Lawrence vs. Gustavus Adolphus game on D3hoops.com. Use the slide show feature as it better illustrates the point. Correct "The Roop" if "The Roop" is wrong but it seems that based on the number of highlight photos of Gustavus Adolphus players that they won the game 127-38. Yet Lawrence is the one advancing. Hmmmmmm. Could there be a bias at other basketball sites??????

I haven't seen or heard anything so one sided since the broadcast of the John Carroll vs. UW-Stevens Point game last year in the Final Four. What was it, Stevens Point by 25 at half-time???? Yet according to the broadcast John Carroll had them right where they wanted them. Wait, I must add to the list. The ESPN2 crew talking about the virtues of "The System" for 40 minutes. Seems Beloit wasn't that influenced by it.

You can't create a cinderella just because you want it and think that G.A. has a better shot at upsetting Point. Cinderellas must happen on their own and it's usually the least likely that does it. For example, take Wisconsin the year they went to the Final Four. Most people had them losing in the first or second round but "The Roop" had them in the Final Four and won the office pool** that year.

Look back at that regional and who they ended up playing and it really was not that big of a surprise. 1st round they were favored over Fresno State. 2nd round they beat Arizona who is/was a notorious choke artist in the early rounds. In the 3rd round I had them playing Texas but instead it was LSU. LSU was not capable of winning a game if they didn't score 90 points that year so Wisconsin handled them easily. So for a trip to the Final Four they played Purdue for the 18th time that year I think. When teams are that familiar with each other there are no upsets.

Does D3 have a cinderella this year?? Probably not but if I had to pick one I'd say Lawrence. They're tough enough to go all the way but will depth become an issue for them?? Hard to think of a ranked team as a Cinderella but when you consider the bracket they are in it isn't that much of a stretch. Especially considering that they will never have a home game. Looks like another Sectional Championship witnessed by less than 200 people. I don't think enough of the seedings will hold to save the NCAA.

This is why there is no media coverage at games on the D4 level. It isn't allowed. The official results tell the best story. Nor are there any rankings during the season. After everything is complete the rankings will come out and it will be 100% accurate, whether anybody likes it or not. When 80% of the teams in D4 make the field there is no arguing as to who got left out.

**The office pool was for entertainment purposes only..............

D4 is ready for the semis

2005-03-03T05:24:00.000-06:00

I've been sick and they still don't know what it is until I have some tests run. YEAAAAAAA. So this will be a short version of the D4 Tournament for the upcoming weekend. All the lower seeds won so in the Final Four at Sam Drucker Arena it is 12-16 Alaska-Adak vs. 17-14 Southern NAIA Tech and 3-2 EIEIO vs. 15-14 Bugtussle State. It's just like a Pool B bracket only that the Pool B teams actually won some games.

In the Consolation Bracket at the Mercer K-12 School 18-13 Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville faces 3-3 Wisconsin A&M-Springstead and 19-11 Daisy Moses Medical College takes on 17-13 Mount Pilot Central State. This one looks more like a typical D3 Midwest Regional. Why bother having a consolation bracket????? Somebody might get to 20 wins and that would a be first in D4. That and I felt like it.

I already know who wins so hopefully I will feel up to writing some story lines in the next few days. In the mean time I am struggling to keep water down and haven't eaten in two days. Now they don't even want me to try to eat anything. Bite me, I'm frigging hungry. I'm getting a second opinion but my opinion of the nurse practitioner is likely to be the same as yesterday. She's HOTT. Just to make sure I am taking one for the team and verifying this later today when I go back in.

Such is the luck of "The Roop" that early diagnoses suggest food poisoning, appendix or gall bladder problems. Ain't it great. One thing they can't do anything for and the other two require surgery.

P.S. I still haven't got the car fixed.

Automatic bids ruin the tournament

2005-03-01T06:09:00.000-06:00

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa.................. we won our conference tournament and are going to get spanked in the first round.

As much as I dislike the WIAC it is an absolute crime that they don't have 4 or 5 teams in the tournament every year. I don't think a National Champion has been left out of this years field, as usually happens, but how many teams are in that don't belong? Half of them if you ask me.

D1 has all the money so nobody complains about first round mismatches there but in D3 where it isn't always a National Championship teams get screwed because it is inconvenient for the NCAA to invite them. St. Joke Fisher is a good example. Their undefeated run is impressive but I find it hard to believe they would be better than a .500 team if they played in a real conference. 25-0 vs. nobody. 15-10 if they are in the Midwest or Heartland Conference.

Expanding the field next year does not improve anything. I say do away with automatic bids and cut the field in half. Make all games count and put strength of schedule as an important criteria. If you're going to have a National Championship then make it national. Winning conference A should not guarantee an invite if conference B has more teams that would wipe the floor with conference A teams.

"The Roop" plan calls for a state by state ranking. The Top Ten in Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania all get automatic (Pool A) bids. That makes 50 so any other teams will have to qualify through Pool C criteria. The only Pool B bids will be if a 3-22 team somehow wins their conference tournament. 6-22 yea, we're in, Git R Done.

I'm sure that Puget Sound has a nice team this year but they don't fit in the WI, IL, OH, NY or PA criteria, therefore, they WILL NOT win a championship. Look at a map and you will see where all the Champions come from. Did Lawrence and Ripon just play the National Championship Game? No. But I guarantee that Ripon would win more games in the tournament than St. John Fisher will. SJF wins a game or two and gets some kind of banner to display in their arena, yet Ripon gets nothing despite being the better team

"The Roop" is almost to the point of saying that maybe the NAIA way of inviting everybody is better. But. The NCAA would seed it wrong anyway. Invite everybody and we would see Illinois Wesleyan at UW-Stevens Point tomorrow. Personally "The Roop" thinks that IWU and UW-SP should play a game. The winner gets a play-in game to the D1 Tournament and the loser gets a bye and hosts a game in the D2 Tournament.

Buena Vista............................... Isn't that mascot degrading to the women on the women's team?????

I suppose the D1 equivalent is South Carolina. The Lady Cocks......... Yeah, that's nice.

When any of you has determined that "The Roop" is wrong about anything, please let me know.................

D4 field is set.

2005-02-28T06:55:00.000-06:00

Upsets ruled the day in Championship games so this years tournament is not as many would have predicted. Southern NAIA Tech claimed a #1 seed in the South despite having a 16-14 record when they knocked off Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 87-76. Wisconsin A&M-Springstead also pulled off an upset in overtime over Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute at Ojibway (EIEIO) 118-117 to get an automatic bid. This knocked Bodine Military Academy out of the tournament.

EIEIO seemingly had the game in hand but fouled WAMS on a 75ft 3 pointer with no time left on the clock. WAMS converted the 4 point play and won it in the 4 minute overtime period.

The bracket is as follows:

North Region @Mercer K-12 School
#1 Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 18-11 vs. #4EIEIO 2-2
#2Wisconsin A&M-Springstead 3-2 vs. #3Bugtussle State 14-14

South Region @Sam Drucker Arena
#2 Daisy Moses Medical College 19-10 vs. #3 *Alaska-Adak 11-16
#4 Mount Pilot Central State 17-12 vs. #1 Southern NAIA Tech 16-14

Regional games will take place on Tuesday and the semi finals and finals will be on Friday and Saturday. Regional winners will move on to Sam Drucker Arena whereas the losers will compete in the consolation bracket at the Mercer K-12 School.

*Did not participate in a conference tournament.

Championship Game gets Technical............

2005-02-26T15:14:00.000-06:00

Thanks to a pair of upsets it will be an all Southern NAIA Tech final. Southern NAIA Tech rode a wave of hot three point shooting to down Daisy Moses Medical College 94-79 and Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville erased a 20 point deficit with a 35-8 run in the final five minutes to up end "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State 178-171.

Although Hooterville won the season series 3-1 all records are out the window when these two get together. The rivalry between Hooterville and the main campus at Petticoat Junction dates back to the 1960s and has involved everything from frog gigging and cow tipping to greased pig wrestling. Tonight it will be hoops with a possible #1 seed in the regionals going to the winner.

Despite the fact that there is no reason for it, there will be a consolation game between Daisy Moses Medical College and Mount Pilot Central State.

Southern NAIA Tech advances

2005-02-25T16:02:00.000-06:00

Just as Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville failed to repeat as Regular Season Champions, Bugtussle State won't be repeating as the LNCUTMV Tournament Champs. Falling 87-48 to Southern NAIA Tech in the 4 vs. 5 play in game of the conference tournament. Bugtussle enjoyed a brief 11-8 lead but the wheels quickly fell of the cart and the game was over at the half. Trailing 62-23 at the break Bugtussle pulled their starters and SNT did the same which allowed the J.V. squads to battle to a 25 all tie in the second half. Both teams are now 14-14 on the year.

Losing in the Conference Tournament might not seem like that big of deal since Bugtussle is assured of an at-large bid in the D4 Tournament but getting ousted in the first round may send them out of region. Since the only place they have ever played is in Sam Drucker Arena, they may now be facing the first road game in school history. Seedings and regional placements will be determined Sunday immediately following the U.C.W.I. Tournament Championship Game.

In LNCUTMV semi-final action tonight #1 Daisy Moses Medical College faces #5 Southern NAIA Tech and #2 Mount Pilot Central State takes on #3 Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville in the nightcap. Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville may need to win the tournament if they want to stay at home for the regionals. They need to regain their mid-season form when they went on an 11-1 tear and nearly ran away from the rest of the conference. However, they did finish on a down note and have no guarantee of a favorable seeding despite being the host school for the Southern Regional.

LNCUTMV Dance goes international, comrades.

2005-02-24T14:43:00.001-06:00

Thanks to the internet even those in the former Soviet Union are able to follow Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference action these days. As a token of their appreciation the first 500 fans in the door at Sam Drucker Arena tonight will each receive a Russian Lottery ticket. Courtesy of whatever it says on the ticket. None of the schools in the Conference have Russian departments so a translation has yet to be made.

Tip off of tonights opening round game between Bugtussle State and Southern NAIA Tech is scheduled for 6:30PM but may be delayed due to a sale on NASCAR merchandise at the local Tractor Supply store. The officials all work there and they may have some overtime tonight with the big sale.

UCWI expands

2005-02-22T14:36:00.000-06:00

The University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois has officially expanded today and here is how it happened. You really can't make this type of story up either.

Whilst sitting in the break room at work my former boss popped in to get a coffee and began talking to a couple of the engineers about his boat. Apparently he had some service work done on the lower unit and while they were at it they replaced the water pump. Which is a good idea as you need to take the lower unit apart should the water pump fail. So far the story makes perfect sense. Then my old boss had an idea...............

"I wonder why they don't put a radiator on there then they wouldn't need a water pump". I will repeat that "Why don't they put a radiator on there then they wouldn't need a water pump".

The engineers were a little more polite about it than I would have been (at least until he left the room) and explained that you would still need a water pump even if you had a radiator on your boat. When he left the room we all about hit the floor. And people questioned me when I took a pay cut to get out of his department. I had suffered through his unique problem solving methods for nearly 18 months and could not stand anymore. He is the Fabrication Department Manager where you would think some engineering knowledge might be helpful but apparently it is not required.

For this very reason I am pleased to announce that Duane Churkey School of Engineering will be joining the UCWI for the 2005-2006 season. Just for the sake of argument they will be located in South Beloit, Illinois so the "I" in UCWI will now stand for something.

DMMC claims regular season championship

2005-02-20T09:25:00.000-06:00

Daisy Moses Medical College and "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State met in the final tournament championship of the regular season with DMMC coming out on top 237-218. The win also gave DMMC the regular season championship and automatic bid to the D4 Tournament. Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville failed to repeat as champions as a 1-2 performance this weekend dropped them to 3rd in the conference. SNT-H had held the lead since week 4.

The "High Five" for the conference tournament is now set and 5 teams is all that has made it. The #4 vs. #5 play in game will kick off the conference tournament on Thursday night as Southern NAIA Tech takes on last years Tournament Champion Bugtussle State. Sitting at 7th in the conference is Bodine Military Academy who is now the first ever "bubble team" in D4 history. They will be rooting for E.I.E.I.O. in next Sundays UCWI Championship game. If E.I.E.I.O. wins they will have secured both automatic bids from the UCWI and 7 LNCUTMV teams will make the field. If Wisconsin A&M-Springstead pulls the upset then BMA is out.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)

Daisy Moses Medical College 18-9 (8-2)
Mount Pilot Central State 17-10 (7-3)
Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 17-10 (5-5)
Bugtussle State 14-13 (6-4)
Southern NAIA Tech 13-14 (4-6)
Alaska-Adak 11-16 (3-7)
Bodine Military Academy 10-17 (3-7)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 9-18 (4-6)

Oh, it gets better

2005-02-18T22:35:00.000-06:00

Is it not enough that part after part has not solved the dilema of the Roopmobile??? Of course not. I've learned that following peoples advice only makes things worse. Check this out............ The alternater on car #2 has been squeeling for some time. Thankfully it stopped two days ago. Unfortunately at the same time the alternater stopped squeeling all the warning lights in the instrument panel came on simultaniously. What is that likely to mean????? That the alternater gave out. WHY NOT.

There's always a chance that it could be a matter of a failed belt but I know better than to expect to be so fortunate. Car #2 is not worth repairing. 275,000 miles on it etc. Yet it is the only one that runs at the moment. I've had an alternater go out at Ripon before and I was able to make it back to Beloit after the game running off battery power alone. The headlights faded quite a bit but I made it. I know I have one more day of car #2 before I have to get worried.

On another note...............

The "Statesmen" of Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside can still play their way into the D4 National Tournament. The Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference is assured of 6 teams in this years field. The upstart UCWI will affect things but D4 needs a National Tournament. If Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside can't make the 8 team field when there are only 10 D4 teams, then they simply don't belong.

A miracle is needed and it came in the form of a broken belt on car #2. That's an easy fix. Finally an easy fix...............

If I knew that I woudn't have asked.

2005-02-16T05:20:00.000-06:00

The car woes continue, this time through no fault of my own. Thus far I've replaced cap, rotor and coil. Frustrating that none of this has fixed the problem but cheap enough that it isn't worth complaining about. Let's try a distributer. Nobody has one in stock so I have to order it. Welcome to Wausau where nobody has anything but they can always order it. Before leaving the parts store my comments were as follows....... "There's only one bolt holding that in place. Is all that I need to do is remove that bolt, pull out the old and drop in the new" To which I was told "Yes, that's it". Great, this will be a 10 minute fix.

The distributer came in, a day early to my surprise, so I did exactly as I was told to do. The problem is that I WAS NOT told that you need to align a distributer based on timing sequence and the easiest way to do it is mark the old one before you remove it. Nice knowing that now. I must have been pretty close by accident as I got a few pops out of the car before it officially decided not to start.

Today I will resume where I left off as it required more patience than I had yesterday. Times like these make me wish I had a 4 cylinder as the trial and error process wouldn't take as long. But of course it's a V8 so my chances of getting it right the first time are only 12.5% Which is about the same odds as me shopping at Advance again.

FYI. E.I.E.I.O. won the UCWI Play Off game over WAMS and is the regular season champion. This carries the #1 seed in the conference tournament and automatic bid in the 8 team D4 National Tournament. Should E.I.E.I.O. sweep by winning the Conference Tournament only 1 UCWI team will make it. If WAMS wins two teams will go and it will knock one of the LNCUTMV schools out of the dance.

Snoop Dogg says "So much drama in the LNCUTMV"

2005-02-13T07:05:00.000-06:00

8 weeks down, 1 to go and everyone is still alive. Could this year be a repeat of last season when everybody made the Conference Tournament???? As exciting as that would be it is unfortunately not likely. Having no non-conference games and therefore, no set schedule, the LNCUTMV simply has a regular season tournament every weekend. Since only 1 team can go 3-0 that means we may only have 7 teams at most in this years Conference Tournament. It is still mathematically possible for all 8 teams to make it however.

Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside looks like a team that doesn't want an invitation to the dance this year as they followed up their 5 game winning streak with 3 losses. Bodine Military Academy is clinging to life after going 2-1 but they must repeat that performance and hope that Southern NAIA Tech stumbles. Also hoping for a Southern NAIA Tech stumble is Alaska-Adak who is one game back of a berth in the tournament.

On the top side of the conference Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville still leads the way but "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State and a surging Daisy Moses Medical College are right on their heels. Bugtussle State is currently sitting in 4th place and controls its own destiny despite the fact that they seem to be fading. Southern NAIA Tech also controls it's own destiny as the top 5 records and all ties get in but they need 2 wins to be guaranteed anything. Whereas 1 win puts Bugtussle State in.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)

z Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 16-8 (6-4)
y Mount Pilot Central State 15-9 (8-2)
y Daisy Moses Medical College 15-9 (7-3)
Bugtussle State 12-12 (4-6)
Southern NAIA Tech 11-13 (4-6)
Alaska-Adak 10-14 (4-6)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 9-15 (5-5)
Bodine Military Academy 9-15 (2-8)

z=Clinched Pool A bid and first round bye
y=Clinched bid to Conference Tournament

Brought to you by..........

2005-02-12T21:45:00.000-06:00

Over the years the LNCUTMV Conference has been given a reputation as an athletics only conference. To which we choose not to comment. Instead we would like to point out one of the many fine and time honored traditions that some of our non- athlete students take part in. Up until now it was always known as the Farm Machinery Beautification Pageant but thanks to a generous sponsor it has been renamed the Engineering Sciences Competition.

At first the name change sent shock waves through the Conference; even worse than when NASCAR switched to NexTel. However, we feel that this will have a positive impact on all the member schools and hopefully distract attention away from our policy of "If tuitions paid, you're cleared to play".

Congratulations to this years award winner Bugtussle State.

Irresistible force meets immovable object

2005-02-10T17:53:00.000-06:00

Although the UCWI Play Off game is still 3 days away, the mascots for both teams have already gotten into it on the road to Hooterville. The much anticipated rubber game between the Porcupines of Wisconsin A&M-Springstead and the Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute at Ojibwa (E.I.E.I.O.) Feral Hogs has the regular season Conference Championship and all important #1 seed in the Conference Tournament hanging in the balance.

Ticket sales have been surprisingly brisk for two teams playing way out of region. Part of the increased interest has come in the form of a new value meal available at the concession stand. For the UCWI Play Off Game fans in attendance will not only be able to enjoy "Barbecued Chicken in Aluminum Foil" that Sam Drucker Arena is famous for but they will now be able to upgrade the meal with an RC Cola and a Moon Pie for only $1 more.

UCWI is approved..............

2005-02-08T15:25:00.000-06:00

The schools of the University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois received good news today as their petition was approved for them to compete in the D4 National Tournament. Typically provisional D4 members are not allowed to participate in the post season but since the only other D4 Conference is the LNCUTMV the board figured, "Why not !!!"

As a first year conference the UCWI was only able to persuade two teams to join. The Wisconsin A&M-Springstead Porcupines and the Exeland Instititue/Edgewater Institute at Ojibwa (E.I.E.I.O.) Feral Hogs. The conference is still in search of a team from Illinois, or from any state that begins with the letter "I". This greatly limited the scheduling this year and the announcement allowing them into the post season becomes even more surprising.

While the announcement is a nice surprise, there are a few obstacles to overcome. WAMS and E.I.E.I.O. finished the season tied for first at 1-1 in the conference. Since the victory margin was 10 points in each game no tie breaking criteria exists that can determine the regular season champion and #1 seed in the conference tournament. WAMS is 2-1 overall having defeated D1 Electoral College in non-conference play but that was an out of region game and does not count for anything.

A one game play off needs to be held to determine the regular season champion. However, neither team has a regulation gym so a neutral site must be found to make the play off game legal. The Mercer K-12 school is unavailable as it may be needed for WIAA High School Tournament games.

Help has arrived in the form of Sam Drucker Arena. The LNCUTMV does not use Sam Drucker on Sundays so the UCWI play off game will be held there on 2/13/05. It's a big risk financially to move two out of state teams in for a play off, but the only other thing going on that day is the ProBowl and it's not like anybody watches that anyway. Sam Drucker Arena has also applied to host the UCWI Tournament on 2/20/05 but no decision has been made yet.

LNCUTMV Race tightens

2005-02-07T09:30:00.000-06:00

With two weeks and 6 games to go 7 teams are still in contention for a bid in the Conference Tournament. Even lowly Bodine Military Academy is still alive although they are 3 games back. The top five records, not necessarily teams, make the field. Tie breakers are used soley for the purpose of seedings, not to eliminate teams from competition. The best tie breaker is to play another game and that's how things are done in the LNCUTMV.

The top 3 teams get Pool A bids, 5th place and all ties get a Pool C bid. 4th place gets the lone Pool B bid as we like to limit the number Pool B teams to keep it fair for everyone else. Should there be a tie for 4th place tie breaking criteria will be used and the team(s) that don't make it will be placed into Pool C.

System originator Mount Pilot Central St. has moved out of the middle of the pack and is now only a game back of the top spot. The hottest team in the conference right now is Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside. While they are only 9-12 they have won 5 straight and are knocking at the door for a Pool C bid.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)

Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 14-7 (7-3)
Mount Pilot Central State 13-8 (6-4)
Daisy Moses Medical College 12-9 (5-5)
Bugtussle State 11-10 (6-4)
Southern NAIA Tech 10-11 (4-6)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 9-12 (7-3)
Alaska-Adak 9-12 (4-6)
Bodine Military Academy 7-14 (1-9)

As Predicted................

2005-02-06T22:00:00.000-06:00

I believe I previously commented on the board that while Ripon was starting hot, they had a history of going in the tank. Well, well, well............ It seems "The Roop" nailed that one. 3-4 in their last 7 games in which they should have done no worse than 6-1; if they were truly as good as the hot start indicated that is. Short version of the story is.......... THEY'RE NOT.

Thus far they have clinched a .500 record in conference play and seem destined to back their way into the MWC Tournament, or will they???? Tie breakers will play a significant role in determining who makes the field this year and if The Red Chickens fail to win another game they may have to wait until next year.

Carroll has a chance on Wednesday to ensure that 8-8 is the minimum record it will take to make it in if they can beat St. Norbert at home. Lake Forest can accomplish the same thing with a win at Knox the same evening. So can Monmouth with a win at Illinois College. Should all teams fail we will have to wait for the weekend before it is official as Monmouth (7-6) travels to Lake Forest.

Tie breakers aside I think it's safe to say that Beloit, Illinois College and St. Norbert are all out of it now; regardless of unlikely possibilities. The biggest of which would be for any of those teams to run the table, which they won't. As I see it the Conference Tournament seedings will be #1 Lawrence vs. #4 Ripon and #2 Knox vs. #3 Monmouth. Lawrence over Monmouth in the Championship.

ESPN Eve

2005-02-02T17:30:00.000-06:00

Well it's almost here, "The Game".............

Regardless of outcome I think the sun will still rise and set on Friday. I think it's nice that ESPN2 would put a DIII game on the air but I doubt that any McDonalds All-Americans will be signing letters of intent to Beloit or Grinnell any time soon.

Has anyone heard if John Burris is planning on attending the game??? Based on his comments posted on the Beloit website my guess is that he isn't. That speaks volumes as to his interest in the program. The friendly wager between Presidents he spoke of is to be expected but to not show up at such an event is a slap in the face to everyone concerned. I was born and raised there, trust me, there isn't enough going on in Beloit on a Thursday night that warrants a President missing this game.

Hopefully it becomes a slap in the face for him. The telecast won't light up the Neilsen ratings but people are interested in the game and my hope is that they voice their concerns to his office directly.

Katie bar the door

2005-02-01T15:11:00.000-06:00

The LNCUTMV Conference race is heating up faster than hog boiling time. Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville is still in the lead despite going 1-2 this weekend but their lead has shrunk dramatically. Daisy Moses Medical College and "System" originator Mount Pilot Central State are both only a game back. MPC St. is hot right now and moved up two places after this weekends action. They have won four in a row.

Bodine Military Academy is challenging Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside for the cellar by going 0-3 and Alaska-Adak is inching towards a berth in the conference tournament with a successful 2-1 weekend. Bugtussle St. and Southern NAIA Tech are right in the middle of things at 9-9. Both went 1-2.

Team ----- Record ----- (Last 10)
Southern NAIA Tech-Hooterville 12-6 (7-3)
Daisy Moses Medical College 11-7 (6-4)
Mount Pilot Central State 11-7 (5-5)
Bugtussle State 9-9 (6-4)
Southern NAIA Tech 9-9 (5-5)
Alaska-Adak 8-10 (4-6)
Bodine Military Academy 7-11 (3-7)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside 6-12 (4-6)

St. Norbert declared ineligible..................

2005-01-31T15:10:00.000-06:00

It is not often that "The Roop" bestows his grace upon teams, especially ones he doesn't particularly like. So when "The Roop" says that St. Norbert has 6 winnable games ahead of them it was not a cue for them to lose back to back home games. This is most certainly non-compliance with The New Roop Order and therefore St. Norbert has been declared ineligible for this years post season.

Knox was compliant and now they are all but assured a spot in the MWC Tournament. Two more wins for them and I think it will be official. 9-7 looks like it will easily make the field and it would not surprise me if an 8-8, possibly two 8-8s make it this year.

Beloit is still there but their loss on Saturday was a real nail in the coffin. Too many teams ahead of them to fight past. Stranger things have happened though.

Monmouth is waiting in the wings should anyone stumble and trust me, Carroll is about to. Which brings me to Lake Forest. Hmmmm. They will need to repeat the run they had last year to make it and I'm not sure if they can.

Illinois College........ It's hard to comeback from an 0-5 start, usually because good teams don't start 0-5. They've had some nice wins but it is too little too late. They are officially a spoiler now.

Grinnell. I'm not exactly on the Grinnell band wagon but I don't dislike them either. It's rough to see a team go through a season like they are having. Every time the offensive numbers improve and they look like they are going to break out of it, they don't. It's unfortunate but their season is all about the EPSN game now.

Propane and propane accesories.

2005-01-27T18:49:00.000-06:00

Thursdays will be a slow days for posts as FX has a King of the Hill Marathon every week. Some things just take priority.

Keep it National

2005-01-26T21:10:00.000-06:00

There has been a notion amongst certain schools and conferences that perhaps Division III does not need a National Tournament at all. That Regional Tournaments would suffice. Time away from school due to all the traveling is a primary concern. That's understandable to a point but it's not like the entire field makes it to Salem.

If we borrow from the past then went to an Elite Eight format instead of a Final Four, the Tournament would be completed in two weeks and only 8 teams would have to travel more than once. To accomplish this we could hold Regionals as they were in the past, only that they would be 6 teams not 4 teams as it was years ago. Play Thursday, Friday and Saturday games and the field is down to 8. All Regional Champions would then to go Salem, or wherever the Finals are held in the future. Another weekend of Thursday, Friday and Saturday games and the tournament is complete and a National Champion is crowned. This would even be viable after the field is expanded in two years.

Another problem that can be eliminated or rendered less likely is the West Sectionals scenario of last year. Host team lost the first game and attendance for the championship game was not worth mentioning. Obviously the host team would have a bye the first round using this format. Therefore the NCAA is relatively assured of having 2 well attended days to help offset the cost of moving the teams. An empty house on the Saturday would not be as devastating if the host were knocked out early.

Seedings have improved in recent years but they will never be perfect. Selection criteria needs to improve because it's hardly fair the way it is. The biggest injustice however would be in not having a National Tournament at all.

Must win Weekend II

2005-01-25T17:07:00.000-06:00

With Lawrence the only MWC contender to hold serve last weekend this weekends action should separate the men from the boys. I think.................

Won't the real St. Norbert please stand up, please stand up, please stand up. Sitting at 4-4 in the dog pile of possible contenders lies St. Norbert with as many confusing losses as quality wins. They might be in better shape than anyone gives them credit for despite their recent misfortune. They finish up the year with Lawrence and Ripon coming to town but prior to that there are 6 very winnable games, even though 4 are on the road. If they take care of business in those games they will have 10 wins and be in the MWC Tournament regardless of what happens on the last weekend.

Don't Knox it til you've tried it. The Prairie Fire needs to fuel the flames for this weekends road trip to St. Norbert and Beloit. The trip continues next week with a visit to Illinois College before returning home again. Facing three teams in must win situations on the road will likely determine their fate this year. It gets no easier for them the rest of the way and they need to win 2 out of the next 3 to stay alive.

Not sure what got into Ripon last weekend but their stay in the top 25 won't last long if they don't break out of it. Revenge will be a motive for Saturdays game vs. Lake Forest but if they look past Illinois College on Friday their only route to the NCAAs will be an automatic bid.

Carroll is another team that needs to find itself and find a way to get it done on the road. They are 4-4 but only 1-3 away from home. With 4 road games remaining they are suddenly looking like an 8-8 team.

Odds are I'll win the lottery first.

2005-01-24T18:30:00.000-06:00

I will not have a weekend like I've had this past weekend ever again and it's still going. It simply isn't possible for these events to repeat. If it could go wrong it did and it's not over yet. Car #1 is still down for the count on the lot of a car dealer. Not any car dealer mind you but an uppity import dealer that only services imports. I did not choose to break down at all, let alone on their lot. A frozen fuel line would have thawed today so I'm guessing it is more along the lines of a fuel pump now.

If I'm lucky it is only severely flooded and will start for me later tonight when I return with a fully charged battery. At present it will be a 6 hour charge time as it is that worn down from starting attempts. Oh joy, that will be 10:00PM and I will freeze just as I did yesterday. If only it were New Years Eve I would simply get drunk and have it towed for free. Unfortunately they don't offer that service the other 364 days of the year. This is definitely a between a rock and a hard place kind of moment and it's getting old in a hurry.

Nothing like this can ever happen on payday, or shortly thereafter, it's always a week before payday when you never have enough money to pay attention let alone take care of an unexpected repair. I've been told that appliances have ears, meaning that as soon as you think you are getting ahead, they will decide to break down so you will have to buy new ones. Cars apparently have ears too.

Insult to injury indeed........... To make all of this worse I can see the car from my kitchen window. It is literally a stones throw away. It might as well be 100 miles away at the moment as I am powerless to do a thing about it right now. Times like this make me wish I had never given up my Jedi training because I would be able to use the force and levitate the car back to my parking lot. Two minutes of pushing would normally do the trick but the dealership expanded last year and built a fence. Which means my apartment building no longer shares a driveway with the dealership.

Yes, the car is that close to home. In fact I can actually walk to it faster than I can drive to it in the other car. By walking I can cut across the yard and not have to drive halfway around the block to get there. Although it's not a budgeted item for this Fridays payday I will buy some lottery tickets because I am more likely to win than have this weekend happen to me again.

Start bailing Beloit

2005-01-23T13:13:00.000-06:00

After two losses in what were very winnable road games this weekend I think the Buccaneer ship is officially sinking. Depth has been a serious issue for them this year and the stats from every game prove this out. They certainly don't have the best starting five in the conference but their line up is good enough to compete with most everyone. Provided there is not a big defensive lapse when starters go out I think bench scoring is a bit overrated but from memory the most their bench has put up this year is 13 points. That simply won't get it done.

I'm not sure what his scoring average is this year but it is sad that Josh Hinz, who is likely to become the schools all time scoring leader, may never play a post season game in his career. On the bright side he is only a junior and has one more year for help to arrive. Is the help going to come from current team members who can step it up next year or will it be from the incoming class. Freshmen typically don't contribute much so the only hope is that the other underclassmen can improve.

At the moment the MWC is the Ripon and Lawrence show. The only question now is whether Ripon goes in the tank as they have a history of doing. I don't like Ripon, so this is hard for me to say, but I hope they keep rolling and go into the MWC Tournament as the #1 or #2 seed. Should they falter that opens the possibility of two, maybe even three, also-rans to get into the tournament. Once in the tournament anything can happen; as this season has proven repeatedly this year.

Nothing against Lawrences accomplishments last year but they benefitted from a favorable seeding in the NCAAs. Should an also-ran win the MWC Tournament they are likely to be rewarded with a first round game at Stevens Point or Illinois Wesleyan. Such a match up will certainly be a one and done for the MWC and that will erase a great deal of respect that the conference has earned in recent years.

The MWC has some wins against those conferences this year but against the top teams in those conferences it has not been pretty. I'm not sure if Stevens Point could beat Utah but Ripon played Utah closer than they played Stevens Point. There are plenty of games left and Beloit is only two back of a spot in the tournament so I will still consider them as a contender until they are mathematically eliminated. Having said that they lost to Illinois Wesleyan by 40 in Beloit. When you lose by 40 to anyone you probably could not win if you were playing 5 on 4.

Next season will prove whether or not Beloits decision to hire a full time Athletic Director was a publicity move or a true commitment to winning. She has the pedigree to make it work and I think Youngblood can win in Beloit if he is allowed to. The question is, will the current administration allow him to. It will never be as good as the Miller Upton or Roger Hull days but even Martha Peterson knew a good thing when she saw it and got out of the way, more or less, and allowed the athletics programs to succeed. The glorious academic standards of Beloit did not suffer just because the basketball team was one of the top programs in the country.

Let the second half begin.

2005-01-22T15:03:00.000-06:00

Due to a county wide bake sale this weekend at Sam Drucker Arena. All LNCUTMV games were played midweek. We are just over the halfway point in the season and the standings are as follows:

Team-------Record-----(Last 10)
Southern NAIA Tech - Hooterville 11-4 (9-1)
Daisy Moses Medical College 9-6 (7-3)
Bugtussle State 8-7 (6-4)
Southern NAIA Tech 8-7 (5-5)
Mount Pilot Central State 8-7 (4-6)
Bodine Military Academy 7-8 (3-7)
Alaska - Adak 6-9 (2-8)
Pigs Knuckle Hollow - Creekside 4-11 (4-6)

Alaska-Adak has really stumbled of late. Plummeting from second place to off the map in a matter of weeks. They weren't the only early season surprise however. Pigs Knuckle Hollow - Creekside was expected to contend this year but has not been able to overcome an 0-5 start which was due to academic issues. It seems players were skipping practice in order to attend classes. The principles of the Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference and D4 philosophies have been reiterated to those individuals concerned and their focus has been regained. For the moment they are on life support but not completely out of it with 12 games remaining.

"System" originator Mount Pilot Central State is not surprising anyone this year, despite having three 7th year seniors. Their bid for a championship may have ended in the off season however as an 8th year of eligibility was not granted in one case. The player in question apparently had accumulated enough credits to graduate. The staff in their compliance office has been given notice that there will be changes for next year.

Say it like you mean it................

2005-01-21T20:56:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the New Roop Order. Membership is free and the only rule is that you say what's on your mind, sugar coating is not allowed. MWC Basketball is the primary theme but other conferences, real or imagined, may also be discussed. In fact, any topic is open for debate here. You can't say that about some other websites.